Animated figure



July 19, 1949.

R. E. LAREAU ET AL ANIMATED FIGURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 17, 1946 July 19, 1949. R. E. LAREAU ET AL 2,476,742

ANIMATED FIGURE Filed Oct. 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 awn-z;

Patented July 19, 1949 UNITED-STATES PATENT G'F'FlCE Rudolph E. Larcau and Dorilda Izarea/u,

Fitchbur'g, Mass.

Application October 1'7, 1921B, Serial No. 103.749

This invention relates to amusement devices, and more particularly to that form of amusement device which takes the form of a human face and which is provided with means whereby the expressions of the face may be alteredat'will.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an animated toyof the character described which will be most compact in structure but which at the same time will provide means whereby a maximum number of different expressions may be produced thereby.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a toy which, although rugged in construction, is at the same time adapted for economical manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations andarrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will readily be understood by those skilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a front view of one form-of a device incorporating the present invention there- Fig. 2 represents an exaggerated right side view of the device disclosed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a back view of the device disclosed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 represents one of the wheel elements shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 represents a front view of a second form of the device incorporating the present invention therein.

Fig. 6 represents an exaggerated right side view of the device disclosed in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 represents a back view of the device as disclosed in Fig. 5. I

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the present invention is disclosed as incorporated in a device comprising a substantially fiat base member If) having portrayed on the front side thereof fragmentary pictorial representations which, in the present case, represent a human face. This base member I!) is shaped as a human face and is provided with ear portions I I, I l and a small body portion 12. Appropriately provided in the base member ID are a pair of eye apertures l3, l3, a single nose aperture l4, and a single mouth aperture [5. Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, there is provided upon the back side of the base member if) a substantially flat 1 Claim. (Cl. 46-135) support member 16 which is rigidly secured to the base member 10 by'means of apair of spaced primary -'-rivets "H and 18. Provided at the back side or the base member ID are a plurality of circular elements which take "the form of a pair ofeye elements cr wheels 1 9 and 20, a single nose element 21 and -a single mouth element 22. Re fer-ring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, it is to be understood that each of these elements is disposed between the base member In and the support meinber 18 Y so that each of the elements will cover a respective one-pr the apertures which have been provided in the base member l0. More specifically, each of the elements 19, 2D, and '24 are pivotally' secured upon the support member *6 by means of secondary rivets 23, which rivets positidn th'e elements in partial overlapping relation with each otherto the end that a most compact structure is formed thereby. 'The circular mouth element 22 is not provided with a secondary *rive'tbut is mounted directly upon the primary rivet l8.

Referringparticularly'to Fig. 4, theeye element I 9 'is "shown inffull so that it maybe understood that each of elements 19 and 20 have similarly portrayed thereon a plurality of different types of eyes which are spaced =cir'cumferential1y about the element thereby to provide a different type of eye as the element is rotated about its rivet 23 and past its associated eye aperture I3. The elements 2| and 22 have similarly portrayed thereon a plurality of diiferent types of noses and mouths respectively. Referring particularly to Fig. 1, it is to be understood that the apertures l3, I3, l4, and I5 are so proportioned that only one eye, nose, or mouth may be seen through its appropriate opening at any one time. It is to be understood that as each of the elements I9, 20, 2|, and 22 is rotated about its associated rivet it will be effective to alter the expression appearing upon the face of the doll as disclosed in Fig. 1. The circumferential portions of the elements I9, 20, and 22 extend beyond the confines of the base member ID thereby to facilitate the manipulation of the device.

By thus providing the above described figure with a support member I6 it is to be understood that the elements I9, 20, and 2| need not be secured directly to the base member [0 thereby permitting the front side of the member ID to be relatively free of any excess rivet apertures or other mutilating elements. Furthermore, the addition of the support member l6 upon the base member I0 lends rigidity to the entire device thereupon by means of a pair of spaced primary rivets 28 and 29. Pivotally mounted upon the support member 21 are a pair of circular eye elements or wheels 30 and 31 which are secured upon the elements 27 by means of secondary rivets 32, 32. These elements 30 and 3| of the second form of the invention are similar to the eye elements I 9 and 20 as disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4 as each of these elements 30 and 3| have portype of eye will appear through its associated eye opening 25 to the end that various amusing expressions may be presented upon the front face of the member 24. Pivotally mounted upon the primary rivet 28 and between the members 24 and 21 is a mouth element or wheel 33 which, like the mouth element 22 of the first form of the invention, has portrayed thereon a plurality of different types ofmouths which are spaced circumferentially thereabout.

From the above it is to be understood that the primary diiference between the two forms of the invention lies in the fact that the second form thereof has no nose wheel provided thereon. However, the fundamental structure of the two .forms of the present invention is substantially the same in that each comprises a base member having a support member rigidly secured upon the back side thereof for the purpose of having 4 mounted upon the support member a plurality of rotatable elements which are designed to alter the dolls facial expressions whenever they are rotated relative to each other.

We claim:

A doll comprising, a substantially flat base member in the shape of a flat human face having a pair of eye apertures therein and being provided on the front side thereof with pictorial representations which, along with the eye apertures,

simulate the appearance of a human face, a substantially flat support member, a pair of primary rivets each of which functions rigidly to secure a respective one of the upper and lower end por tions of said support member to and in a sub- "stantially parallel relation with the back side of said base member, a pair of partially overlapping circular elements each associated With a respective one of said eye apertures and having portrayed thereon a plurality of individual human eyes circumferentially disposed thereabout, and a plurality of secondary rivets, each of said secondary rivets functioning pivotally to secure a respective one of said circular elements to said support member between said latter member and said base member in a manner such that the pictorial representations on each of said circular elements may be seen through a, respective one of said apertures so that they will form with the pictorial representations on said base member a complete and variable picture of a human face.

RUDOLPH E. LAREAU. DORILDA LAREAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,618,710 Hose Feb. 22, 1927 1,687,743 Tilden Oct. 16, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 767,643 France May 6, 1935 

